davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-21
THINGS HARD TO BE UNDERsTOoD

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them
of these things; in which are some things
hard to be understood, which they thatare I'M
learned and unstable wrcst as they do also the
other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
II Pet. iii, Is.
What if there should be some incompre-
hensible doctrines in the Chrishtian relig-
ion; some circumstances which in their
causes, or their consequences, surpass the
reach of human reason; are they to be re-
iected on that account? You who are, or
would be thought, men of reading, and
knowledge, and enlarged understandings;
weigh the matter fairly, and consider
whether revealed religion be not, in this
respect, just upon the same footing with
every other object of your contemplation.
Even in mathematics, the science of dem
onstration itself, though you get over the
first principles, and learn to digest the
idea of a point without parts, a line with
out breadth, and q surface without thick
ness, yet you will find yourself at a loss to
comprehend the perpetual approximation
of lines which can never meet; the doc
trine of incommensurables, and of an in
finity of infinities, each infinitely greater,
or infinitely less, not only than TN finite
quantity, but than each other. In physics,
you cannot comprehend the primary cause
of anything, not Of the light by which you
see; nor of the elasticity of the air by
which you hear; nor of the fire by which
you are warmed. In physiology, you can
not tell what first gave motion to your
heart, nor what continues it, MOI why its
motion is less voluntary than that of the
lungs; nor why you are able to move your
arm to the right or left, bysa simple wolf.
ton: you cannot explain the cause of ami
NAL heat, or comprehend the principle by
which your body was first formed, nor by
which it is sustained, nor by which it will be
reduced to earth. In nature religion you
cannot comprehend the eternity or omni-
presence of the Deity; nor easily under
stand how his prescience can be consistent
with your freedom, or his immutability
with his government of moral agents; nor
why lie did not make all his creatures
equally perfect; nor why he did not
create them sooner; in short, you can
look into any branch of knowledge but
you will meet with subjects above your
comprehension. The fall and redemption
of human kind are not more Incompetent
sible than the creation and conservation of
the universe; the Infinite Author Of the
works of providence and of nature is
equally i%nscrutible; equally past our find
ing odt in them both.-Letters to Edrard
GtJ60n.
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-21
HOwELLis FIRST LITERARY VEN
TURE.

Mr.. Howells was born March 1, 1887, at
Martins Ferry, Ohio, opposite Wheeling.
West Virginia. His father was of Welsh
descent, his mother of German stock, and
both were superior by education and tastes
to the moderate circumstances in which
they found themselves when this boy, who
was one of eight children, came into the
world. When he was only three years
old, they left Martins Ferry to live in
Hamilton, Ohio, and then the father
bought and edited the ~LateItgencer, a
weekly newspaper, and his son was scarce
ly ont of his cradle before he learned to
set type. He had little regular schooling,
but he was a great reader and had a
natural gift for composition. He does
not remember how young he was when he
mastered the mysteries of the printers
trade. but it was certainly long before he
was twelve.
There were leisure moments between
the working hours, and he occupied these
in printing compositions Of his own. How
ever precocious they may be, few young
authors see their work immortalized by
the dignity and permanenee of typo before
they reach their teens, but when this lad
was only eleven, he sat up and printed an
ambitions work of his own. A thorough
bred is not less fearless of ditch and hedge
than the budding author is of his theme.
Mr.. Howells is called a .'realist' now;
he writes about men aud women as they
are and will have neither villains of deep
dye nor paragons of virtue in his stories;
for he believes that good and evil are mix
ed in all of us. But he was of a different
mind when he wore a white apron and
stood before the printers case, with its
alphabetical compartments full of little
metal letters. He boldly launched out
then, not in any coeklesheil of rhyme, but
in a fve-act, blank verse tragedy; and 1t
| should be needless to say that the subject
was the death of a Roman Emperor. Such
ventures carry too much sail for their
ballast. and, like other lightly laden ships,
this has not been heard from since.-From
"TBe Boyhood Of William Dean Ho1els,"
6y William II. Rideiag, In 50. Nicholas for
September.
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-21
Written for the MONITOR.
LITTLE SERMONS.


No grave of doubt is SO deep as a broth
er's need covered over by our hands with
that needs answer OF ministry. When
good and God and heaven grow dim and
disappear, and sorrow and evil and defeat
and death seem all, the best way to clear
up the murky, storm-darkened atmosphere
is to stop thinking and go to work doing,
stop trying to answer our deep question
ings and go to work serving; giving some
brother the word of kindness, the deed
that helps him across the rough way
threatening failure, the spirit Of loveshown
that ZONES as a cheer to his dropping dis
couraged spirit, such act of ministry will
clear the sky, bury our doubts and set
faiths blossoms above their graves and
the birds of high hopes singing among our
trees of life. A fine, brotherly action is
keenest blade for cutting, destroying
doubts and fonl spirits into their heart s
very centre.
Who breathes poisoned air will have
poisoned blood; who think foul thoughts
Will IIdfG q IOul tItdI dCItIs
[ would rather nave men think than to
accept my dogmas; for who thinks with
what information he may get and a deter
mination to know and do the truth finds
at last the true way; who thinks indeed
along the line of his conscience bravely,
faithfully, persistently, is sure to think
with God at last. and with God act.
Emulation that you have beaten another
withers victory S laurel leaves.
climbs into worthy and abiding success.
IF he drifts aimless, taking this mans adj
vice and that mans suggestions, if he does
nothing until someone else points out the
way or comes to his help, he must fail; he
is as unstable as water, and cannot pre-
vail. So not in a low and mean sense,
but in the high sense ofnoble self-reliance,
each man must carve his way to success,
must cut out by patient, painful chisel
strokes the character of endurance and
beauty.
Ever since Aaron built gold into a calf
it has been fashionable to worship it in
that form. If you are skeptical of this
statement, just look around you and find
how many characterless and bad men for
their moneys sake are the social idols.
Joy is the soul of goodness; and no other
angel can sing in our hearts the endless
songs of gladness. All other voices that
seem joy are siren voices leading on to
disappointment and death.
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-21
SARATOGA CHIPS.

$40 Saratoga chips com from Sarato-
ga?" inquired a Nail and Express reporter
of a New York grocer.
"Not much" said the grocer. They
are made in this city, and many are ship
ped to Saratoga. But if you want to know
all about them just go up to the bakery
and see how they are made"
At the bakery it was learned that the
concern has a monopoly of the business in
this city, and that there are only three
makers of Saratoga chips in the country.
Chips are an American institution, and are
not known abroad save for the small lots
that rave been exported. The process of
manufacturing is in part a secret. The
potatoes are peeled and sliced by machin-
cry. They are washed and dried between
muslin cloths. If they were now fried
the amount of starch that they conta i'll
would make them brown, and the secret of
the business is to remove all of the starch,
so that the chips will BE- perfectly white
When this is done they are put INTO the
hot grease, and come out curled and crisp
with the delicious flavor hat has made
them famous the world over. Said the
manager:
1--WE use seventy-five barrels of potatoes
a week, and keep seven bakers at work,
and have three wagons out delivering
Hotels take them by the barrel, restau-
rants take them in twenty-five pound
boxes. and for the grocers to serve to pri-
vate families we put them up in one pound
cartons. The dining ears on nearly all the
railroads use them, and we have sent somt
to England. Cities as far away as Jackson
Vile, Florida, and San Francisco send &c
us for Saratoga chips, They will keep for
three months. 4 few minutes in a no
oven makes them as crisp as though they
were just fried"
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-21

At no store south of Camden can be
found a larger or better stock OF staple
goods and general merchandise than We
show. Il. b. Humphreys 4 Co.
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-21

Of Teaching That Will Seem
Funny to Pupils of To-Day.

In those days the first exercise was read
ing two verses from The Testament by the
older pupils, who had back seats, while
the small children were nearest the fire.
After the reading if the teacher Yves a man
of prayer he offered one. This was done
while the little ones were roasting before
the fire. Then began the exercises in
Webster's sp~elling-book, the teacher in
winter pointing to the letters with a pen
knife, and in summer with the point of his
scissors, as they were more or less in use.
Thumps were generally on the head,
with a thimble on the teachers finger, if a
female. Then came the study of alb, alb.
Then reading was begun with the maxim:
"Let no maj put off the law of God"
Then as the reader progressed came the
stories in Webster's s~pelling-book of the
unfortunate and silly dairy maid who, with
her milk pail on head, calculated how
many eggs she would sell it for and what
a fine dress she would buy, until, tossing
her head with these pridefuI. reflections,
down came the milkpail to the ground and
WIN ~ ali utl Sh ccl hopes.
Then there was the moral story about
the boys stealing apples. The farmer first
tried to stop them by throwing tufts Of
grass, but finding them Of no effect he
threw stones, which were more effectual.
The American Perceptor succeeded that
book. The children were given a recess,
though it was not known by that name.
The boys went first by themselves, and
afterwards the girls. At recess the teacher
mended the goose-quill pens, the quilts be-
ing picked up oftentimes while the child
rem were on the way to school,. They
would be damp, and a split could not well
be made to form the two nibs. II there
were girls who could not learn the 'rule
of three, " the teacher explained it during
the recess. Shortly came a rap on the
window to call in all the children. After
geography followed a lesson in grammar,
forty minutes long, which none of the
children understood, but most of them
hated. Ruled paper was not Known. The
father bought a few sheets of paper, which
were stitched at home. 1t was of all
qualities. The teacher had to rule the
lines and keep busy mending the pens.
The ink was homemade.
Later on came the Columbia Orator and
English Reader, filled with solid matter,
not suited to the wants of the learner.
Children of sixteen, or about that age, got
to read very well, the book passing from
class to class. The girls were generally
the best readers. There were no regular
classes in arithmetic, but the books wers
Daboll's and Pixies arithmetics. No les
sons were given out, but a pupil would get
on as he could. The teacher, if he could,
would work out a sum" He had a book
with the problems worked out. When a
pupil was troubled he would copy it into
a similar book in his desk, and this salts
fed both teacher and pupil. But the hap
piest exercise was at the end of the week;
reciting from the commandments and tie
catechism and the tables of weights and
measures. The books of the Old Tesla
ment had to be recited in order.-Neu
London Day.
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-21

Mrs. Fowler, of this city, was married
last January to her sixth husband, and
strange as it may seem, five of them died
exactly two years from their marriage
day. Her present husband has been sick
for the last four months with chronic jaun-
dice, and was given up by four of our best
physicians; as a last resort he began using
Sulphur Bitters, and yesterday told our re-
porter that they had saved his life, smil-
ingly saying that he guessed Mrs Fowler
would be unable to take a seventh better
half for some time to come.-Ezchdnge.
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-21
THE HOME BEAUTIFUL.
A Sensible Protest Against Certain
Forms of Home Decoration.


There is justification for much of our
good-natured ridicule of our country cous-
ms, whose precious front parlor, into
which no ray of purifying sunlight ever
penetrates, is apt to be damp and musty,
and conveys a certain impression of ugly
angularity which tends to nightmare; and
yet we of the city, imrelled by that ex-
ample, fly to the opposite extreme, and
crowd our walls with all sorts of incon-
gruous and inappropriate furbelows; but
the beam is in our eye. The journal Of
DECORATED Art gives the following excel
lent advice, applicable alike to town and
country, for attaining the ideal home
beautiful:
The ideal home beautiful is attained
rather by avoiding errors of taste than by
the adoption of dogmas of art. For my
own part, if l have any dogmas to preach,
they may fairly be condensed in this rule:
"Avoid shams and Alterations of all
kinds"
Don't mistake some prettiness for beau
ty; millinery, for instance, is ont of place
in the home beautiful.
Don't attach to your chairs and sofa
cushions meaningless bows of ribbon which
tie nothing.
Don't dress up FOUR toilet table in mus
lin petticoats stiffened with ~crinoline or
colored calico.
Don't scatter startling white tides
about chairs and sofas, as on so many
bushes, as if you were hanging out the
wash to dry.
Don't display on your walls china
plates and dishes. They were never meant
to go there. An exception may be made
now and then in favor of a piece of fine
color to help light up the room, or where
a delicate china painting is worthy of
careful examination. But hang up ordi-
nary domestic chinai DON'T
Don't hang small pictures so that their
beauty is lost to any one under. eight feet
high. If a picture is not seen from the
same position that the artist saw it when
he painted it, the drawing will appear
foreshortened and the general effect con-
sequently falsified.
Don't hang any picture in the home
which has not the impress of elegance,
purity, and cheerfulness.
Don't give place to representations of
corpses, tortured saints, or anything occa-
sioning painful emotions. And above all,
having such pictures and wanting them
downstairs, don't Danish them to the nur-
sery, school room or bed room.
Some things | would relegate to the bee
room-out of the way somewhere il
locked drawers, for instance. | mean me-
mentos of seaweed and dried ferns or flow
ers and wretched daubs on china, canvas,
or paper, the crude efforts of youthful
members of the family. No true lover of
the home beautiful will infiict these on his
family and friends and compel them to
violate truth by pretending to like them.
Don't admit into the home beautiful an,
piece of furniture or implement of every
day life which does not honestly serve it:
purpose-no light, flimsy chairs, which al
able-bodied man dare not sit upon; nc
puffy, debilitated sofas, all vino and
springs; no FURNISHED, b~rass-sheeted ire
irons, bought only to be looked at, and
give place to the ugly little black poke
ashes ale TO be removed.
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-21
VOL. ".
THE BLIND Err.

Like a blind spinner in the sun,
thread my days;
l know that all the threads will run'
Appointed ways;
know each day will bring its task;
And, being blind, no more 1 ask.
] do not know the use or name
OF that l spin:
L only know what some one came,
And laid within
My land the thread, and said "Since you
Are blind, but one thing You can do
Sometimes the threads so rough and fast
And tangled fly.
know wild storms are sweeping past.
And fear that L
shall fail; but dare not try to find
y safer place, since 1 am blind.
know not why, but l am sure
That tint and place,
In some great fabric to endure
Past time and race,
My threads will have; so from the first,
Though blind, 1 never felt accurst.
think, perhaps, this trust has sprung
From one short word
said over me when I was young
SO young, 1 heard
1t, knowing not that Gods name signed
My brow, and sealed me his, though blind.
But whether this be seal or sign
Within, without,
1t matters not. The bond divine
eve doubt,
/ know he sat me here, and still,
And glad, and blind, l wait his will.
But listen, listen, day by day,
To hear their tread
Who bear the finished web away,
And cut the thread,
And bring Gods message in the sun,
"rhou poor, blind spinner, work is DONE
Helen HINT jackson.
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-21

And took her for his mate.
There l. hope, and life and health and COM
fort for our wives, our mothers. our sisters
and our daughters in the New Davis Vertical
Feed ewing Machine. IL is the highest run
ming, the simplest constructed, the easiest
comprehended. and the most durable. IL
brings light 10 the eye, color To the cheek,
elasticity aud life, joy and prosperity 20 every
household.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-05-19
THE PARK.
state.

We made mention of the fact the
other day that there was considerable
talk of connecting the east and west
sides of the square. Since then we
have talked with a number of persons
and find that the sentiment is almost
unanimously in favor of such an en-
terprise. The plan that meets with
the most favor is to make single
opening at the east and west side, in
line with the east and west doors of
the court house and let the driveways
diverge from each other in the form of
an ellipse and meet on the other side at
the place of exit. Then there should
be walkways on the north side and on
the south side of the two driveways.
A plan something like this would GER
tainly beautify the park and be of great
convenience to the people on both sides
of the square as it would save a consid-
cradle drive in getting from one side
to the other.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-05-19
THE WIND.

There is universal belief throughout
the east that winds of Kansas are
something horrible, something like the
dreaded monsoon of the east, carrying
death and destruction with them. To
confess the truth the winds are the
most disagreeable things that visit Kan
sas and if we could have our way about
it, most of us would be perfectly will
ling to have them at least modified.
But the idea that we have destruct-
i've wind almost every day in the year
is absurd. The fact is there is no
greater danger here from wind-storms
than in Missouri or Illinois. We have
been in the state nearly two years and
have never yet witnessed coronado or
even a wind-storm that caused serious
damage. No, we Will admit that our
winds are disagreeable, but they are
not more dangerous than in other
places. The trouble is here, we have a
loan soil, intermiXed with considera
BILE sand and the wind blows, many
days in the year, with sufficient force
to drift this and make travel a little
disagreeable. This is about all there
| is in it. Kansas has but few defects
and this particular one stands out
rather prominently when compared
with all her good qualities, and fol-
that reason has received a prominence
far out of proportion to its Importance.
We can assure our eastern friends that
there is nothing serious in this much
| talked-of drawback of the SunflOweI
state.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-05-19
Petition for Druggists Permit.

NOTICE is hereby given that the undersigned pc
ttiOners, Dunn and Regal have filed there petition
in the Probate court of Barton county, Kansas,
praying for order of said court to grant and issue
to the said petitioners Druggist permit TO sell in
toxicating liquors for medicinal, mechanical and
scientific purposesonly in the city of Elliuwood Bar
county, Kansas, for year in accordance with
the laws of Kansas in such made and provided.
That said petitioners are persons OF good moral
character, that they do not Intoxicating q uors
beverage and that they can be entrusted with
the responsibility OF selling Intoxicating liquors.
That said petitioners registered pharmacists
under the laws OF Kansas, that they are lawfully
and in good faith engaged personally in the business
of druggists propretors thereof at the place herin
before designated. and that they well versed in
their said professions.
That said petition was signed by p reputable
resident females of the said city OF Elin wood
81 years age, and % resident male freehold OF
said city OF EllinwoOd, Kansas.
That said petitioners have in their said business
exclusive OF Intoxicating liquors and fixtures stock
of drugs of the value of at least 1000 dollars and
that said petition and will be heard by said
court on the 2Sth day of May, 1887, at IL O'Clock
a.
DUNN & RIEGLE,
4-5t Petitioners.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-05-19
Decoration Day.

The following is the program for
Decoration day-Monday, May 80,
1887:
All members of the G. a. r., w. r.
c.. and Sons of Veterans will meet at
G. r. hall at 1 p. M, when procession
will form and march to opera house,
headed by Citizens band.
Exercises at opera house will COM
mence promptly at 2 p. m.
LIST. Song by choir.
End. Prayer by Comrade Enyeart.
3rd. Music by band.
4th. Address by -.
9Th. Song by choir.
9th. Procession will form on Broad
way under direction of Marshal and
proceed to cemetery in the following
order:
LIST. Great Bend Citizens band.
Ind. Pap Thomas Post G.. y. r.
and eX-soldiers.
3rd. Pap Thomas w. r. G.
4th. Zarah Camp Sons of Veterans.
9Th. Mayor and Councilmen.
9th. Citizens.
EXERCISES AT CEMETERY.
1st Memorial exercises by Post.
End. Song by choir.
3rd. Decoration of graves.
4th. Music 10y band.
By order of committee.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-05-19
Notice Of Bridge Letting.
OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK, I
Great Bend, Barton County, Kan
April %, 1887.

Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals viii
be received at the county clerks office, of Barton
county, Kansas, for the building OF four irOn
bridges on the following sites, to-wit: One iron
bridge across Walnut creek, between sections % and
30, twp 1S range To- One iron bridge Walnut
creek on the twp line between townships IS, ranges
IA and 10. One iron bridge across Walnut creek,
where the laidout road running east through section
go, township 10, range IS, crosses Walnut creek
One iron bridge cow creek, between sections
Is and 10, township 49, range H. said bridges TO be
each OF one span eighty (SO feet in length and six
teen 6) feet in the clear Plans and specifications
10 accompany the proposals. The board OF county
comm issioners will meet the 23rd day of May,
1887, and proceed open the sealed proposals for
said work and award the contracts TO the lowest
sponsible bidder. The Board reserve the right TO
ject auy or all bids
By order of the board of county commissioners.
ED L TEED
ISEALl County Clerk
l.